WHAT ARE THE EIGHT MEANS OF ATTAINING SALVATION (ASHTOPAYAS) ?

The eight meas of attaining salvation (Ashtopayas) are as follows:-

1. Yajna
2. Danam
3. Vedadhyayanam
4. Tapas
5. Dama
6. Satyam
7. Rjusila
8. Mardava

जय जय श्रीराधे 

WHAT ARE THE UTENSILS, IMPLEMENTS AND DRAVYAS USED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF SOMA YAGA?

The following are the important utensils,  implements and dravyas that are generally used in the performance of Soma Yaga:-

• ·       Abhisavana phalaka
• ·       Abhri
• ·       Agnihotrahavani
• ·       Ajyam
• ·       Ajyasthali
• ·       Anvaharyasthali
• ·       Arani
• ·       Asandi
• ·       Asida
• ·       Camasa
• ·       Caru
• ·       Catushpatra
• ·       Darbha
• ·       Daru Patra
• ·       Dasapavitra
• ·       Dhavitra
• ·       Dohana
• ·       Dronakalasa
• ·       Drsad
• ·       Graha
• ·       Ida Patra
• ·       Idhmam
• ·       Juhu
• ·       Kalasa
• ·       Kapala
• ·       Krishnajina
• ·       Kurca
• ·       Madanti
• ·       Mahavira
• ·       Meksana
• ·       Musala
• ·       Pariplu
• ·       Patra
• ·       Phalaka
• ·       Pinvana
• ·       Pistapatri
• ·       Pistodvapani
• ·       Pranita
• ·       Pranita Pranayana
• ·       Proksani
• ·       Purnapatra
• ·       Purodasa
• ·       Sakata
• ·       Samya
• ·       Sannayya Tappani
• ·       Sapha
• ·       Satpatra
• ·       Somalata
• ·       Sphya
• ·       Sruk
• ·       Sruva
• ·       Sthali
• ·       Surpa
• ·       Ulukhala
• ·       Upabhrt
• ·       Upala
• ·       Upavesa
• ·       Vasordhara
• ·       Vighana mudghara
• ·       Yoktra
• ·       Yupa

जय जय श्रीराधे

WHAT ARE THE THREE AGNI USED IN SRAUTA SACRIFICES?

The following are the three Agni used in Srauta Sacrifices:-

(1) Garhapatya

(2) Ahavaniya

(3) Dakshinagni

जय जय श्रीराधे

WHAT ARE THE SEVEN SOMAYAGAS?

The seven Somayagas are as follows:-
(1) Agnishtoma
(2) Atyagnishtoma
(3) Ukthya
(4) Sodasi
(5) Vajapeya
(6) Atiratra
(7) Aptoryama
जय जय श्रीराधे 

WHAT ARE THE SEVEN HAVIRYAJNAS?

The following are the seven Haviryajnas:-
(1) Agnyadheya
(2) Agnihotra
(3) Darsapurnamasa
(4) Caturmasya
(5) Agrayana
(6) Nirudhapasubandha
(7) Sautramani
जय जय श्रीराधे

WHAT ARE THE SEVEN PAKAYAJNAS ?

The seven Pakayajnas are as follows:

(1) Ashtaka ( Anvashtaka)

(2) Sthalipaka

(3) Parvana

(4) Sravani

(5) Agrahayani

(6) Caitri

(7) Asvayuji

जय जय श्रीराधे

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP MODERN VIPRAS WHO ARE UNABLE TO STRICTLY FOLLOW THE DHARMA SASTRAS?

The stipulations are numerous in the dharma SAstras in respect of every aspect of human life starting from birth to death. Different Rishis have said in different time periods so many varied things based on the yuga dharma. On an analysis of all these, I have come to the conclusion that there are more points of divergence rather than convergence based on the opinions of these Rishis. Of course, on the substratum of dharma there is uniformity. But on the detailed procedures to be followed, there are so many differences. This is there not only in the Grihya SUtras but also in the Srauta SUtras which deal with performance of yajnas. There are variations based on region, philosophy, sub-sect, kula AcAra and so on.

A brAhmaNa has to perform 40 samskAras besides the daily routines of karmanushthAna from dawn to dusk. This includes 7 pAka yajna, 7 havir yajna and 7 soma yajna. There is also the panca mahA yajnas in terms of deva yajna, pitru yajna, bhUta yajna, manushya yajna and brahma yajna. One has to do 96 pitru tarpaNas in a year. In addition, the SrAddhas have to be done. All these become mind-boggling in the modern times considering the fact that there are no kings to support the veda brAhmaNas and each one has to struggle to earn and maintain his family. Thus "udara nimittam bahu kruta vesham" is the order of the day.

In the modern world, most of the productive time in one's life is spent in materialistic learning and earning. In addition, he has to do the nitya, naimittika and kAmya karmAnushthAnas and also something to take care of his own salvation in terms of understanding Atma vidyA, Bhakti marga and so on.

Even by performance of all the 21 yajnas after learning the 4 vedas and 6 VedAngas, one does not attain the abode of the Supreme. He can rejoice in Heaven for a stipulated period but he has to take birth thereafter. Here the question of approaching a particular upAsana devatA comes to the forefront. There also a lot of approaches exist.

The life of a human being is too short to handle all these properly and before he comes to some definite conclusion, he passes away abruptly due to disease or accident. The vicious circle of samsAra hounds him for ever.

Considering the problems confronted by the modern vipra, we have to devise some ways and means of helping him out within the ambit of the dharma SAstras by following the essence and spirit of the same. Over a period of time a lot of practices have undergone changes. In the modern times, what is to be done by a person, how and when is something that we have to examine seriously and cautiously.

In my humble view, something more focused on the essence rather than on the form of karmAnushthAna could be worked out within the parameters of the dharma SAstras. This is a very serious, massive and long-term exercise which cannot be done through on-line forums. We need to have the guidance and collaboration of existing authorities on dharma SAstras so that some thing more pragmatic can be worked out as an alternative to those who are not in a position to fulfil the rigors of dharma SAstras due to various factors beyond their control.

Kindly note that we are not suggesting changes to dharma SAstras per se but we are trying to guide people as to what best they can do as an alternative if they are under circumstances where it is not possible to comply strictly with the stringent provisions of dharma SAstras. This will be a great and timely effort which requires the co-operation and support of all vipras so that something tangible and meaningful can be attempted with the grace of the Supreme.

WHETHER A VIPRA CAN PERFORM BRAHMA YAJNA AFTER THE DEMISE OF HIS WIFE?

Brahma Yajna is a nitya karma which has to be performed just like sandhyA vandanam. Hence a vipra has to necessarily perform brahma yajna daily even after the demise of his wife. This is the correct position as per dharma SAstras.

CHANGING YUGA DHARMAS

As the yugas change, the yuga dharma also changes as determined by the great Rishis.
Accordingly, the major shift has happened as follows in the four yugas:

Kruta yuga = DhyAnam
TretA yuga = YAga
dvApara yuga = PUjA
Kali yuga = nAma sankIrtanam (keSava)

dhyAyan krute yajan yajnaih tretAyAm dvAparercayan !
yadApnoti tadApnoti kalau sankIrtya keSavam !!

-- vYAsa


YAvanna kIrtayet rAmam kalikalmasha sambhavam !
tAvattishthati dehesmin bhayam cAtra pravartate !!

---- Sivasarvasvam

SrutismrutipurANeshu rAma nAma samIritam !
tannAma kIrtanam bhUyas tApatrayavinASanam !!

---- cyavana smruti

sarvapApa prasaktopi dhyAyannimishamacyutam !
punastapasvI bhavati panktipAvana pAvanah !!
----- PaiThInasI

na tAvatpApamedhena yannAma hatam hareh !
atireka bhayAdAhuh prAyascittAntaram vrithA !!
------ YogayAjnavalkya

prAyascittAnyaSeshANi tapah karmAtmakAni vai !
yAni teshAmaSeshANAm krishNAnus smaraNam param !!
------ SrI vishNu purANa

One should not condemn the changing yuga dharmas and those dvijas who follow those, as the dvijAs are suited to the yuga concerned.

yuge yuge ca ye dharmAs tatra tatra ye dvijAh !
teshAm nindA na kartavYA yugarUpa hi te dvijAh !!
-------- parAsara

HOW TO PERFORM ACAMANAM?

Acamana vidhi contains a lot of niyamas to be followed. Some important aspects are covered below:

gokarNAkruti hastena mAshamagnam jalam pibet !
tannUnam adhikam pItvA surApAna samam bhavet !!

The inner right hand to be folded like cow ear and water to be consumed which is of the size of "MAsha" . If it is more or less, it is equivalent to consuming surApAnam .

apsu prAptAsu hrudayam brAhmaNaS SuddhimApnuyAt !
rAjamyah kaNThatAlU ca vaiSyaSSUdras tathA Striyah!!

The water consumed should reach hridayam for brAhmaNas ( in order to get purified), neck for kshatriyas, palate for vaiSyas, SUdras and women.

samhatAngulinA toyam grihItvA pAninA dvijah !
muktvAngushtha kanishthye tu SishtasyAcamanam caret !!

Use five fingers together while taking tIrtham. Then separate the thumb finger and little finger. Whatever water remains in the hand is to be used for Acamanam. { This is also interpreted as MAshamagnam tIrtham}

---- and so on ----

Asanam :
kukkutAsanam

Direction:
East ot North


PAtram:

While doing anushtAnam, a separate vessel is preferable for Acamanam as Acamana tIrtham is not be used for other purposes like prokshaNam.

Procedure:

(1) Consume water three times saying Om acutAya namah, Om anantAya namah and Om govinDAya namah

(2) Use thumb finger to cleanse the closed mouth

(3) Cleanse the thumb finger with water

(4) Touch the twelve parts chanting the DvAdaSa namas starting with Om KeSavAya namah (each one at a time) and ending with Om dAmodarAya namah

Number of times

(1) Two times before homa, japa and one time at the end
(2) Two times before and after food



SrotrAcamanam

tasmAt AcamanAsambhave nAsikA karNa Sparsah kAryah !

If Acamanam cannot be done with water, by touching the tip of the nose and right ear, one gets the benefit of doing the Acamanam. It is known as SrotrAcamanam.

Brahma Yajna Acamanam

While doing brahma Yajnam one Acamanam is done in a different format without mantra.

AcamanIyam during devatArAdhanam

When arghya, PAdya and AcamanIyam are offered to BhagavAn, as part of devatArAdhana, it has to be shown with reverence. One should not consume the water so offered as AcamanIyam because the same is offered to BhagaVan with the bhAva that it is consumed by Him.


As regards a simple thing like Acamanam, there are subtler aspects, different interpretations and varied practices . Hence it would be advisable for those interested in karmAnushthAna to know these things personally in a traditional guru -sishya format.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT MODES OF WEARING YAJNOPAVITAM?

Different modes of wearing of YajnopavItam:

Deva tarpaNam - upavIti (Left shoulder)
Pitru tarpaNam - prACInAavIti (Right shoulder)
Rishi tarpaNam - nivIti (Garland)
Carrying the Sava(corpse) - nivIti (Garland)
Nature's call - Around the right ear

WHAT ARE THE FIVE TYPES OF YAJNAS?

There are five types of yajnas as follows:
ahutam -- veda japam
hutam -- homam
prahutam -- BhUta bali
brAhmahutam -- brAhmaNa pUja
prASitam -- pitru pUja
One has to worship Rishis by veda adhyayana, Devas by homas, Pitrus by SrAddham, BrAhmaNas by food and bhUtas by bali dAnam